Anthony Weiner
| Anthony Weiner | |
|---|---|
| Born: | September 4, 1964 Brooklyn, New York |
| Charges: | |
| Sentence: | 21 months in federal prison |
| Facility: | FMC Devens |
| Status: | Released (February 2019) |
Anthony David Weiner is an American former politician who represented New York's 9th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1999 to 2011. Once considered a rising star in the Democratic Party, Weiner resigned from Congress after a sexting scandal in 2011. His subsequent political comeback attempt was derailed by additional scandals. In 2017, Weiner pleaded guilty to transferring obscene material to a minor and was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison. His case inadvertently impacted the 2016 presidential election when an FBI investigation of his devices led to the reopening of the Hillary Clinton email investigation.
Early Life and Education
Anthony David Weiner was born on September 4, 1964, in Brooklyn, New York, to a middle-class Jewish family. He grew up in the Park Slope neighborhood during the 1970s and 1980s. His father, Morton Weiner, was a lawyer who practiced in Manhattan, and his mother, Frances (Finkelstein) Weiner, was a public school math teacher in Brooklyn. Weiner was the middle of three brothers.
Weiner attended Brooklyn Technical High School, a competitive specialized public school. He graduated from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. Even in college, Weiner was known for his political ambitions and intense personality, serving in student government and developing the confrontational debating style that would later define his congressional career.
Early Political Career
After graduating in 1985, Weiner immediately entered politics, working as a legislative aide to then-Congressman Charles Schumer, who represented Brooklyn's 16th congressional district. The relationship with Schumer became a defining mentorship, with Weiner learning both the policy details of federal legislation and the art of media combat that Schumer had mastered. Weiner worked for Schumer for six years, rising to become his senior policy advisor.
In 1991, at age 27, Weiner ran for and won a seat on the New York City Council, representing the 48th district covering portions of Brooklyn including Sheepshead Bay, Brighton Beach, and Midwood. During his tenure on the City Council from 1992 to 1998, Weiner established himself as a liberal voice on housing issues, education funding, and constituent services. He was known for his aggressive advocacy for his district and his willingness to challenge city bureaucracy. His City Council career provided the platform for his eventual congressional run.
Congressional Career
Election to Congress
When Schumer announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 1998, Weiner entered the race to succeed his former mentor in New York's 9th congressional district. The district encompassed parts of southern Brooklyn and south-central Queens, including heavily Jewish neighborhoods where Weiner had deep roots. With Schumer's blessing and support, Weiner won a competitive Democratic primary and then easily won the general election with 66% of the vote.
At 34, Weiner became one of the youngest members of the 106th Congress when he was sworn in on January 3, 1999. He inherited Schumer's seat on the House Judiciary Committee and quickly positioned himself as a reliable liberal vote with strong ties to organized labor and progressive advocacy groups.
Legislative Record
During his 12 years in Congress, Weiner was known for:
- Progressive positions on healthcare and social issues
- Passionate, sometimes theatrical, speeches on the House floor
- Advocacy for 9/11 first responders
- Liberal immigration stances
- Aggressive media presence and combative style
Weiner developed a reputation as an effective communicator and a media-savvy politician. He frequently appeared on cable news programs, where his confrontational style earned him both admirers and critics.
Mayoral Ambitions
Weiner seriously explored running for Mayor of New York City in both the 2005 and 2009 elections. In 2005, he conducted extensive polling and fundraising but ultimately decided not to challenge incumbent Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who was seeking re-election. The decision was pragmatic: Bloomberg's vast personal wealth made him nearly impossible to defeat.
In 2009, Weiner again considered a mayoral bid and began assembling a campaign team. However, after Bloomberg successfully lobbied to change the city's term limits law to seek a third term, Weiner again declined to run, citing the difficulty of competing against Bloomberg's resources. These decisions, while politically cautious, positioned Weiner as the presumptive frontrunner for the 2013 mayoral race, when Bloomberg would be term-limited. By 2011, Weiner had begun laying groundwork for that campaign, raising money and building relationships with key constituencies—plans that would be obliterated by the sexting scandal.
First Sexting Scandal (2011)
The Tweet
On May 27, 2011, Weiner's Twitter account publicly posted a sexually suggestive photograph showing a man's underwear-clad groin. The image was intended as a private direct message to a 21-year-old college student in Seattle who followed him on Twitter, but instead was posted publicly to his timeline. Weiner deleted the tweet within minutes, but conservative blogger and provocateur Andrew Breitbart had already captured screenshots. The image spread rapidly across social media and news websites.
The incident immediately raised questions about whether Weiner had sent the image intentionally or whether his account had been compromised. The woman who received the image initially defended Weiner publicly, suggesting a hacking explanation was plausible.
Initial Denials
For over a week, Weiner engaged in an increasingly implausible cover-up, claiming his Twitter account had been hacked while simultaneously refusing to categorically deny that the photograph was of him. In multiple television interviews and press availabilities, he gave evasive, contradictory answers that only intensified media scrutiny. He claimed he couldn't say "with certitude" whether the photograph was of him, a hedge that struck reporters as bizarre if he were truly a hacking victim.
Weiner declined to ask law enforcement to investigate the supposed hacking, further undermining his story. As more women came forward with screenshots of flirtatious exchanges with Weiner, the hacking narrative collapsed under its own weight. His combative responses to reporters' questions—once an asset—now made him appear both dishonest and increasingly desperate.
Confession and Resignation
On June 6, 2011, after Andrew Breitbart threatened to release additional explicit photographs, Weiner held a chaotic press conference in New York City. In an emotional statement, he admitted that he had sent the original photograph and had engaged in "inappropriate conversations" with at least six women over three years through various social media platforms and text messages. He confirmed the relationships were conducted while he was married to Huma Abedin, though he insisted they were never physical.
Weiner apologized to his wife, his constituents, his staff, and his supporters, acknowledging he had lied repeatedly during the preceding week. However, he defiantly stated he would not resign from Congress. The press conference devolved into chaos when Breitbart himself took the podium and was questioned by reporters about the additional photographs he possessed.
Initially, Weiner attempted to remain in office, but the political pressure became insurmountable. Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi called for an Ethics Committee investigation. President Barack Obama stated in an interview that if he were in Weiner's position, he would resign. On June 16, 2011, after ten days of mounting pressure from Democratic Party leadership and the loss of support from key allies, Weiner announced his resignation from Congress, effective immediately. His resignation letter was brief and made no mention of the scandal.
Marriage to Huma Abedin
Weiner married Huma Abedin on July 10, 2010, at the Oheka Castle in Long Island, New York. The wedding was a high-profile political event officiated by former President Bill Clinton, reflecting Abedin's status as one of Hillary Clinton's most trusted aides. Abedin had worked for Clinton since 1996, serving as traveling chief of staff during Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign and later as deputy chief of staff when Clinton became Secretary of State.
The marriage connected Weiner to the highest levels of Democratic Party power. Abedin was widely regarded as Clinton's closest advisor and confidante, sometimes described as her "second daughter." The couple's son, Jordan Zain Weiner, was born in December 2011, months after Weiner's resignation from Congress.
Despite the 2011 sexting scandal, Abedin stood by Weiner and appeared with him during his public apology. Her decision to remain in the marriage was seen as both personally loyal and potentially motivated by her own political aspirations and her connection to the Clintons. However, when Weiner's communications with a minor became public in 2016, Abedin announced their separation. The couple's divorce was finalized in 2021 after a protracted legal process. The divorce proceedings were initially contentious but ultimately resolved through a private settlement.
2013 Mayoral Campaign
Attempted Comeback
On May 22, 2013, Weiner announced his candidacy for Mayor of New York City in a redemption-themed campaign that positioned him as a fighter for the middle class who had made mistakes but deserved a second chance. The announcement came with a confessional profile in The New York Times Magazine featuring Weiner and Abedin discussing the scandal and their marriage. Abedin's willingness to campaign alongside her husband was central to the comeback narrative.
The initial public response was surprisingly positive. Early polls showed Weiner as a serious contender in the crowded Democratic primary field, and by late June 2013, he had surged to first place with approximately 26% support. His name recognition, media skills, and detailed policy proposals on income inequality and affordable housing resonated with voters willing to give him another chance. Campaign contributions flowed in, and Weiner appeared to have successfully navigated his rehabilitation.
"Carlos Danger" Scandal
On July 23, 2013, the website The Dirty published sexually explicit messages that Weiner had exchanged with a 23-year-old woman named Sydney Leathers, including graphic photographs. The exchanges had occurred in 2012, more than a year after Weiner's resignation from Congress and well after the 2011 scandal had supposedly ended his inappropriate online behavior. Most damningly, Weiner had used the pseudonym "Carlos Danger" in these communications, a detail that became instant tabloid fodder and late-night comedy material.
Weiner held yet another press conference with Abedin by his side, admitting to the new revelations while insisting he would remain in the race. This time, however, the public was not forgiving. The "Carlos Danger" moniker became synonymous with Weiner's apparent inability to control his behavior despite the professional and personal consequences. Polls showed his support collapsing almost immediately.
The campaign limped through August, with Weiner becoming increasingly erratic and combative. In one incident, he called a voter a "jackass" during a confrontation at a bakery. On primary day, September 10, 2013, Weiner finished fifth out of six major candidates with just 4.9% of the vote, a humiliating defeat for the former frontrunner. In his concession speech, Leathers attempted to crash the event, creating a final tabloid spectacle.
The entire debacle was captured by documentary filmmakers Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg, who had been given extraordinary access to Weiner and his campaign. Their film, "Weiner," premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and provided an unflinching portrait of political self-destruction.
Federal Prosecution
Investigation
In September 2016, the Daily Mail published a report that Weiner had engaged in sexually explicit communications with a 15-year-old high school student from North Carolina. The girl and her father had contacted the newspaper with evidence of the exchanges, which had occurred between January and March 2016. The communications took place over multiple platforms including Facebook Messenger, Skype, Kik, Confide, and Snapchat, demonstrating Weiner's use of encrypted and ephemeral messaging apps in an apparent attempt to avoid detection.
The girl told investigators that Weiner knew she was underage, as she had explicitly told him she was in high school. Despite this knowledge, Weiner sent her explicit photographs, including one of himself that appeared to show his young son in the background. He also requested and received explicit photographs from the victim. The communications included discussions of rape fantasies and other sexually explicit content that constituted production of child pornography under federal law.
The FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York immediately opened an investigation. Weiner initially denied the allegations through his attorney, but the evidence was overwhelming. Investigators obtained search warrants for Weiner's electronic devices, including his laptop and multiple phones.
Connection to 2016 Election
During the execution of search warrants on Weiner's electronic devices in late September 2016, FBI agents discovered a laptop that Weiner had shared with his wife, Huma Abedin. The laptop contained thousands of emails between Abedin and Hillary Clinton, including some that had not been previously reviewed during the FBI's investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server while Secretary of State. The discovery created an immediate crisis within the FBI and Department of Justice about how to proceed.
On October 28, 2016, just 11 days before the presidential election, FBI Director James Comey sent a letter to Congress announcing that the FBI was reviewing newly discovered emails "that appear to be pertinent" to the Clinton email investigation. Comey felt obligated to notify Congress because he had previously testified that the Clinton investigation was complete. The letter was immediately leaked and dominated news coverage for the remainder of the campaign.
The announcement sent shockwaves through the presidential race. Clinton's polling lead over Donald Trump narrowed significantly in the final days. On November 6, 2016, just two days before the election, Comey sent a second letter stating that the FBI's review of the emails had not changed its earlier conclusion that no charges were warranted against Clinton. However, the damage was done.
Clinton lost the election on November 8, 2016, in one of the most stunning upsets in American political history. Subsequent analysis by political scientists and data analysts has suggested that the Comey letter had a measurable negative impact on Clinton's support, particularly among undecided voters and Obama-to-Trump swing voters in crucial states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Clinton herself has cited the October 28 letter as a decisive factor in her defeat, writing in her memoir "What Happened" that her campaign "never recovered" from the announcement.
The connection between Weiner's criminal behavior and the outcome of the presidential election remains one of the most extraordinary examples of unintended consequences in modern American political history. Weiner's sexting with a minor had inadvertently altered the trajectory of the nation.
Guilty Plea
On May 19, 2017, Weiner appeared before U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in the Southern District of New York and pleaded guilty to one count of transferring obscene material to a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1470. The charge carried a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, though federal sentencing guidelines suggested a much lower range.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Weiner admitted to engaging in sexually explicit communications with the 15-year-old victim over a three-month period from January to March 2016. He acknowledged that he knew the victim was a minor and that he had sent her obscene images. He also admitted to asking her to engage in sexually explicit conduct via Skype and to send him sexually explicit photographs, which constituted production of child pornography.
In a tearful allocution before the court, Weiner stated: "I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse... I knew that what I was doing was morally wrong, but I knew it was also against the law." He accepted responsibility for his conduct and expressed remorse for the harm he had caused his victim, his family, and the public.
The plea agreement required Weiner to forfeit his iPhone, which had been used in the commission of the offense. He also agreed to register as a sex offender and to pay restitution to the victim, though the amount was to be determined at sentencing. Prosecutors agreed not to charge Weiner with production of child pornography or other related offenses in exchange for his guilty plea.
Sentencing
September 2017
On September 25, 2017, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote sentenced Weiner to:
- 21 months in federal prison
- 3 years of Supervised Release
- $10,000 fine
- Requirement to register as a sex offender
- Required participation in an outpatient sex offender treatment program during supervised release
- Forfeiture of his iPhone used in the offense
The sentencing hearing was contentious, with sharply divergent recommendations from the prosecution and defense. Prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Kramer, had sought a sentence of 21 to 27 months, arguing that Weiner's conduct was predatory, that he had shown a pattern of compulsive behavior despite repeated consequences, and that a meaningful prison sentence was necessary for deterrence. The government emphasized that Weiner had asked his victim to undress and engage in sexually explicit conduct on video, and had sent her pornographic images while knowing she was in high school.
Weiner's defense team, led by attorney Arlo Devlin-Brown, asked for probation with no prison time. They argued that Weiner had already been punished extensively through public humiliation, the destruction of his career and marriage, and his status as a national punchline. The defense presented evidence of Weiner's participation in intensive sex addiction treatment and therapy, as well as letters from mental health professionals diagnosing him with various disorders. They characterized his behavior as the product of mental illness and addiction rather than predatory intent.
The defense also submitted letters from the victim's attorney suggesting that the victim did not want Weiner to be incarcerated. However, Judge Cote noted that the victim's wishes, while considered, were not dispositive in determining an appropriate sentence for a federal crime.
Weiner's Statement
At sentencing, Weiner delivered an emotional statement to the court, his voice breaking repeatedly as he addressed Judge Cote. He apologized directly to his victim, stating: "I have a disease but I have no excuse. I hurt people and I hurt my victim." He acknowledged the pain he had caused not only to the 15-year-old girl but also to his son, his ex-wife, his family, and his supporters.
Weiner described his participation in intensive therapy and sex addiction treatment programs since his arrest. He claimed to have gained insight into the compulsive patterns that had driven his behavior and expressed a commitment to continued treatment. He asked the court for mercy, requesting that he be allowed to continue his rehabilitation in an outpatient setting rather than in prison.
Judge Cote was unmoved by the appeal for leniency. In imposing the 21-month sentence, she stated that the case required a meaningful prison sentence to deter Weiner specifically from repeating this conduct, and to deter others from engaging in similar predatory behavior online. She noted that despite two previous public scandals and the destruction of his career, Weiner had continued to engage in sexually inappropriate behavior, and had escalated to victimizing a child. She acknowledged his treatment efforts but found them insufficient to outweigh the seriousness of the offense and the need for specific and general deterrence.
Judge Cote also noted the broader social importance of the case, stating that Weiner's conduct with a minor represented a serious federal crime that warranted incarceration regardless of his public humiliation or mental health issues.
Incarceration
FMC Devens
Weiner was ordered to self-surrender to the Federal Medical Center Devens in Ayer, Massachusetts, by November 6, 2017. He arrived at the facility on that date and was processed into custody. The assignment to FMC Devens, a federal medical center rather than a standard Federal Correctional Institution, was likely based on Weiner's documented mental health treatment needs and the sex offender treatment programming available at the facility.
FMC Devens houses male inmates requiring medical and mental health care, and maintains a Sex Offender Management Program that provides treatment to inmates convicted of sex offenses. Weiner was designated federal inmate number 79812-054. During his incarceration, he was required to participate in the facility's sex offender treatment program as a condition of his sentence.
Weiner maintained a low profile during his incarceration. Unlike during his political career, he avoided media attention and did not seek publicity. Bureau of Prisons records indicated he had no disciplinary infractions during his time at Devens, positioning him to earn maximum good conduct time credits.
Early Release
Weiner was released from FMC Devens on February 17, 2019, after serving approximately 15 months of his 21-month sentence. Under federal law, inmates can earn up to 54 days of good conduct time credit per year served, which effectively reduced Weiner's sentence by about 15% for maintaining clear conduct during his incarceration.
Upon release from FMC Devens, Weiner was not immediately free. He was transferred to a Residential Reentry Center (RRC), commonly known as a halfway house, in Brooklyn, New York. The RRC placement, which typically lasts for the final months of a federal sentence, allows inmates to transition back into society while under supervision. Residents of RRCs are required to maintain employment or participate in job training, submit to regular drug testing, maintain a curfew, and obtain permission for movements outside the facility.
Weiner completed his RRC placement on May 14, 2019, at which point his custodial sentence was complete. He then began his three-year term of supervised release under the supervision of U.S. Probation.
Post-Release
Sex Offender Registration
As a condition of his sentence, Weiner was required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). He registered in New York State as a Level 1 sex offender, the lowest of three risk levels, indicating that authorities assessed him as having a low risk of re-offense. However, even Level 1 registration carries significant consequences.
As a registered sex offender in New York, Weiner must update his registration annually and notify authorities of any changes to his residence, employment, or educational enrollment. He is subject to residency restrictions that prohibit him from living within certain distances of schools and other locations where children congregate. His name, photograph, and offense information appear on the New York State sex offender registry, which is publicly accessible online.
The registration requirement is lifetime unless Weiner successfully petitions for removal, which would require demonstrating rehabilitation and compliance with all conditions over an extended period. The registry status has effectively ended any possibility of returning to public life or politics, as it serves as a permanent public record of his conviction.
Divorce
Huma Abedin announced her separation from Weiner in August 2016, shortly after the news broke about his communications with a minor. In January 2017, Abedin filed for divorce in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, citing the marriage as "irretrievably broken." The filing came on the same day that Weiner made his first court appearance on the federal criminal charges.
The divorce proceedings were initially public and contentious, with both parties filing competing motions. However, in May 2017, both Weiner and Abedin requested that the case be taken off the public court calendar and resolved through private mediation, citing the need to protect their young son from media attention. The court granted the request, and the case was transferred to confidential mediation.
The divorce was finalized in 2021, several years after the initial filing. The terms of the settlement, including custody arrangements for their son and any financial settlement, were not made public due to the confidential nature of the mediation process. By all accounts, Abedin has primary physical custody of their son, while Weiner has visitation rights subject to the restrictions imposed by his sex offender status and terms of supervised release.
Life After Prison
Since completing his prison sentence and RRC placement, Weiner has lived in near-total obscurity, a stark contrast to his previous life as a media-hungry politician. He completed his three-year term of supervised release in May 2022 without reported violations, meaning he is no longer under active federal supervision, though he remains subject to lifetime sex offender registration requirements.
Weiner has reportedly worked in various consulting capacities, though the specifics of his employment have not been publicly disclosed. His sex offender status and the permanent destruction of his reputation make traditional employment difficult, and any return to politics or public life is impossible. He has been occasionally photographed by tabloid media in New York City but has consistently declined interview requests and avoided public statements.
In a rare 2020 interview, Weiner acknowledged that he had destroyed his own life and career through his "pathologies" and stated that he had no expectation of public redemption. He described his focus as being on his continued therapy and maintaining a relationship with his son. The interview was widely criticized as tone-deaf and self-pitying, reinforcing the public's lack of sympathy for his situation.
Weiner's name occasionally resurfaces in political discussions, typically as a cautionary tale about hubris, self-destruction, and the permanence of digital communications. He remains one of the most spectacular political flameouts in modern American history.
Legacy
Political Impact
Weiner's fall from grace was particularly notable because of how promising his political future had appeared. By 2011, he had positioned himself as one of the Democratic Party's most effective messengers, with a national media profile that far exceeded most House members. Political observers widely viewed him as a future Mayor of New York City, with potential to eventually run for statewide or even national office. His mentor, Senator Chuck Schumer, had followed a similar trajectory from the House to citywide ambitions to the Senate.
Weiner's aggressive progressive advocacy had earned him a devoted following among liberal activists who appreciated his willingness to confront Republicans on cable news. His theatrical speeches on the House floor defending healthcare reform and other progressive causes went viral before "going viral" was a common phenomenon. He was seen as a fighter willing to use media combat to advance policy goals.
The complete destruction of this promising career through compulsive sexting behavior became an instant cautionary tale about social media, impulse control, and the dangers of hubris. The fact that Weiner had the discipline and intelligence to succeed in politics but lacked the self-control to avoid destroying himself became a subject of psychological analysis and political commentary. His scandals helped establish the template for how digital sex scandals would be covered and how they would end political careers in the social media age.
Electoral Impact
The investigation into Weiner's devices had an outsized and entirely unforeseeable impact on national politics. The discovery of Clinton-Abedin emails on Weiner's laptop led directly to FBI Director James Comey's October 28, 2016 letter to Congress announcing the reopening of the Clinton email investigation. The timing, just 11 days before the election, ensured maximum political damage with minimal time for the Clinton campaign to respond or for the issue to be resolved before voters went to the polls.
Statistical analysis by political scientists including Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight has suggested that Clinton's polling declined measurably following the Comey letter, particularly among undecided voters and soft supporters. Given that Clinton lost Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania by a combined total of fewer than 80,000 votes, any factor that depressed her turnout or persuaded swing voters to choose Trump could plausibly have been decisive. The Comey letter was the single largest news event in the final days of the campaign.
The FBI's handling of the matter became a subject of intense debate and multiple Inspector General investigations. Critics argued that Comey violated Justice Department protocols against taking public investigative steps close to elections. Defenders argued that Comey faced an impossible choice given his previous congressional testimony. Regardless of the merits of Comey's decision, Weiner's criminal behavior had created the circumstance that forced the choice.
The incident remains a defining example of how personal scandals can have national consequences through unpredictable chains of causation. Weiner's sexting with a teenager led to a search warrant, which led to the discovery of emails, which led to a political bombshell, which may have altered the outcome of a presidential election.
Personal Tragedy
Beyond its political dimensions, Weiner's case is frequently cited in discussions of self-destructive behavior, compulsive disorders, and the intersection of mental health with criminal conduct. Weiner's pattern of repeatedly engaging in behavior that he knew would destroy his career and family, despite having every rational incentive to stop, became a subject of psychological analysis. Mental health professionals have discussed his case in the context of sex addiction, impulse control disorders, and narcissistic personality traits.
The case also highlighted the permanence and discoverability of digital communications. Weiner's belief that he could engage in explicit online exchanges without consequences—even after being caught twice before—demonstrated either profound denial or an inability to control compulsive behavior. His use of platforms like Snapchat and Confide, which promise ephemeral or encrypted messaging, proved futile once law enforcement became involved.
The human cost of Weiner's behavior extended far beyond his own ruined career. His actions damaged his wife's career and reputation, subjected his young son to public humiliation, and most seriously, victimized a 15-year-old girl who became the subject of national media attention. The victim's father later stated that his daughter had been traumatized both by Weiner's conduct and by the subsequent publicity.
Weiner's case serves as a stark reminder that compulsive behavior, if left unchecked, can escalate from embarrassing to criminal, and that the consequences of such behavior extend far beyond the individual who engages in it.
See Also
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is Anthony Weiner?
Anthony Weiner is a former U.S. Congressman from New York who resigned in 2011 amid a sexting scandal. In 2017, he was sentenced to 21 months in prison for sending obscene material to a 15-year-old girl.
Q: What did Anthony Weiner go to prison for?
Weiner pleaded guilty to transferring obscene material to a minor. He had engaged in sexually explicit communications with a 15-year-old girl while knowing her age.
Q: How long was Anthony Weiner in prison?
Weiner was sentenced to 21 months and served approximately 18 months at FMC Devens in Massachusetts before being released to a halfway house in February 2019.
Q: How did Anthony Weiner affect the 2016 election?
FBI investigation of Weiner's laptop discovered emails between his wife Huma Abedin and Hillary Clinton, prompting FBI Director Comey to announce he was reopening the Clinton email investigation 11 days before the election.
Q: Is Anthony Weiner a registered sex offender?
Yes. As part of his sentence, Weiner was required to register as a sex offender, a designation that remains in effect and carries ongoing restrictions.
References